12 Tips to Prepare and Organise Yourself for the Holidays

Thursday, 10 November 2016

As
soon as the clock strikes midnight on October 31, focus shifts from
the spookiness of Halloween to the cheer of Christmas. Some people
are already listening to holiday music. Festive feelings are normal,
but you might also find yourself heading into the holidays with a bit
of trepidation because it takes a lot
of
work.

With
the right amount of mental and physical preparation, there’s no
need to worry. Void your sense of dread and restore visions of
sugarplums. If you prepare in advance, you can relax and enjoy the
festivities when they arrive.

Here
are a dozen ways to prepare and organize for the holiday season.

1.
Make Your Shopping List and Stay True to It

You
probably have a general idea of who’s getting a gift this year, so
create a list before you hit the stores. Armed with a list, you won’t
forget anyone while you’re shopping — including co-workers,
neighbors and local service people like your postman and favorite
barista or bartender.

2.
Budget Your Shopping, Too

As
you write your list, decide how much you’d like to spend on each
person. Some people warrant multiple gifts or presents that cost a
bit more, so budgeting
it in advance will save you the shame that comes with running out
of money or overspending on your credit card.

3.
Take Advantage of Tech

The
beauty of the digital age is that you can buy almost everything
online. During the holidays, online shopping is especially wonderful
if you’re short on time. Grab a glass of wine, sit down in your
sweats and fill your cart. Many online retailers offer purchase
incentives for people who do their holiday shopping online, so your
wallet won’t sulk as you shop from your couch.

4.
Break Traditions You Don’t Like

Not
every tradition has to be your
tradition.
Take, for example, the ceremonial sending of Christmas cards. They’re
lovely to receive, but if you don’t have time to do it, don’t.
You shouldn’t be a slave to traditions you don’t enjoy. Some are
too special to axe, but if you no longer find joy in something, it
should go.

5.
Learn to Say No

Much
like traditions, you don’t have to agree to attend every party
you’re invited to this holiday season. It’s perfectly fine to say
no if you’re overloaded. If you need to, rehearse a few “I can’t
come” speeches, so you’re ready on the spot. You can also
reschedule an after-holiday hangout, so you’re not hurting anyone’s
feelings while maintaining your own.

6.
Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

If
you’re hosting guests and they offer to help or bring a dish to
share, don’t turn them down — the extra set of hands or
additional plate of food can make your to-do list much less
stressful. After all, the holidays cause
stress in about 68 percent of people, according to one survey.

7.
Hire Help If You Need It

If
needed, hire professionals to help you prepare. A cleaner can scour
your home before the in-laws arrive, and a babysitter can keep the
kids while you shop for gifts. Give yourself the gift of ease this
holiday season.

8.
Don’t Decorate for the Neighborhood

Unless
you truly love it, don’t stress over the way your house looks on
the outside. Even if your neighbors put on a serious display, give
yourself a break: The holiday is more about what happens inside of
the home. Love is a little more important than twinkle lights.

9.
Plan a Route

Look
at your day’s to-do list and determine the best order to accomplish
tasks. Research addresses and routes, and progress through your
errands in the quickest way. You will save some gas, as well as some
sanity as you dodge holiday traffic.

10.
Celebrate at Home

One
of the hardest things to prep for is holiday travel,
especially with kids in tow. Consider cancelling your trip,
unless you really
want
to go. You can save yourself a whole lot of time, money and stress
when you opt to celebrate and make memories in your own abode.

11.
Stick to Your Schedule

Make
a schedule and stick to it. If you start procrastinating, you’ll
surely regret it as the holiday chaos kicks into full swing.

12.
Schedule Some Personal Time

Your
hard work deserves to be rewarded. You deserve some time to relax
— on Christmas morning and after everything is officially
finished. Get a massage, take a bath, sit down for a pedicure —
whatever calms you, write it into your schedule.

Jennifer Landis isa freelance writer and healthy living blogger. She drinks tea in excess, has a collection of peanut butters, and is a super nerd at heart. Find more from Jennifer at her blog, Mindfulness Mama, or follow her on Twitter @JenniferELandis.